I Dare You!
jaybeacham 24 Sep 2013 | : blog
I read this book when I was 16 or 17. You’ll like it no matter what your age is. http://lnkd.in/bCnju9Y I found a copy in the trash can in my Vocational Agriculture(FFA) classroom. I grabbed it out and read it. What a great motivational book. I wondered why anyone would throw it out. But I was glad they did. It helped shape my young life for the better. Why call a book “I Dare You’? and And who was this guy William H. Danforth who wrote it? That’s what this essay is all about, so please continue reading. William H. Danforth (September 10, 1870 – December 24, 1955) founded Ralston-Purina in St. Louis, Missouri in 1894. He was a co-founder of the American Youth Foundation (AYF) 
Ralston’s checkerboard logo evolved from a personal development concept Danforth put forth in his book “I Dare You” in which he used a checkerboard to explain it. Danforth proposed that four key components in life need to be in balance. In the illustration, “Physical” was on the left, “Mental” on top, “Social” on right and “Religious” on the bottom. To be healthy, you needed the four squares to stay in balance and one area was not to develop at expense of the other. The concept became intertwined with the company in 1921 when it began selling feed that was pressed in cubes called “checkers.” He dared people to be their best in those 4 areas of life. He had exercises to help in each area. I was big into his breathing and other health exercises. He did them daily and worked until almost the end of his 85 years as a healthy younger than his age guy, advising others that they could too. Nestle PURINA has written a fine history of the sickly boy who became the healthiest man around. How? All from a dare by a school teacher to become healthy. http://www.nestlepurina.com/danforth.aspx Here are some highlights but you should go and read it all. “The “dare” idea served him well as was witnessed by his success in pioneering the commercial feed industry, and in being his Company’s active Board Chairman and a tireless traveler and leader of youth until his death on Christmas Eve 1955 at the age of 85.” ” Mr. Danforth made no secret that he took his health seriously. He would proudly relate that he had never lost a day at the office on account of illness. He walked his mile a day because it made him feel better, and his rule was to get eight hours of sleep a night with the windows open. He ate moderately and kept his weight down.” I used to walk briskly to the street corner and back nightly as a young man, I don’t now because I live on the corner. But when I return home from a hard day at construction work and the dog goes for a walk, he most often sees to it that I get more. I still try the open window unless it is really cold outside. Weigh what I did or less than in High School but am much slower at 63 than even at 50 when I could still work circles around men 30 years my junior. “ For all of Mr. Danforth’s heavy executive schedule over the years and his “daring” for high stakes in the business world, he avoided letting business crowd out a happy balance of living.” I let bills and business often crowd out the other things in life. Maybe I need to read the book again. ” In 1927, Mr. and Mrs. Danforth established the Danforth Foundation as a national educational philanthropy. The Danforth Foundation has extended help in the form of fellowships or scholarships to many college students and teachers. In addition, the Foundation has helped to build 24 meditation chapels on college campuses and in hospitals.” He served in the 1st WW “ the Third Division, American Expeditionary Forces.” And brought the word “Chow” for meals back to use in his feed business. ” In a 1955 Monday Morning Message, while he was in his 84th year, he pointed out the significance to him of some of these unchanging fundamentals. “Some folks are continually making changes,” he said. “I flatter myself that I like new ventures and new experiences. But when it comes to fundamentals I believe in finding the right foundations and building on them. I’m a poor changer. For instance, here are some of the fundamentals I have never changed: I have been a church member for over 60 years; married to one wife for over 60 years; a lodge member for over 60 years; a Purina man for over 60 years.
“Four-Square principles have been pillars of strength in my life. I have never had cause to change. The longer I live with such fundamentals, the more valuable they become.”
WELL I DARE YOU TO READ THIS BOOK! http://lnkd.in/bCnju9Y
Do auditions translate to jobs?
jaybeacham 24 Sep 2013 | : blog
I’m in a group at linkedin.com called Voices.com.
A week ago the group originator started a conversation and it has received much attention from the voice over community.
Here is the question and my responses and maybe one or two others to answer my above question.
How many auditions did you do today?
If you’ve been keeping track of how often you step up to the mic each day, comment and join the conversation.
The voice as an instrument-your source for voice work-actor -singer -voice talent
When I was paying for an audition factory to provide audition opportunities, I regularly did ten + a day.
Now Once a week is rare. Audiobook reads are longer and take more time.
With just as little likelihood of being hired.
The amount of auditions don’t seem to correspond to the times being hired.
The only jobs I’ve gotten are from people who know me outside of the internet. The internet only being used to transport the demos and final work.
In my experience, I would get tons of jobs, if I sat at home and waited and jumped at each thing that came along.
Once a casting lady from Atlanta called me. She liked my voice and 9 other guys’ voices. On a day when I was working at a non voice related job away from home, I got home late to an email about a read, I being her first choice. It was 10:30pm Utah time making it very late in Atlanta. I called the next morning to learn that it had been filled. She’d wanted a 1 hour turn around.
In film it is the same. On a Monday, an email arrived for me to be at a shoot as an extra Tues, & Wens. or Wens. & Thurs. that week in northern Utah, I live in southern Utah and had a pre-scheduled acting gig on Wens. in southern Utah.
This is an instant business. Casting directors never plan ahead. And they want quick turn around times and there is a surplus of voices or actors to choose from, who are are sitting waiting for the call or email.
So the number of auditions one does will never translate into jobs.
Other responses to her question are:
Ralph “Allen”
President, Owner Ralph Allen Media
I think that there are a lot of really special and well qualified and talented people doing voice work. The successful people soon learn how to prospect for clients that use free lance talent.
I guess the need for prospecting is a huge part of this job.
Jeff
Voice-over at wordsofwisdom.biz
I do agree with the above comment. Nowadays, its about how smart you run your business, and how well you prospect, and that is not just voice-acting. If your voice is spot-on, I would suggest a business/marketing course, rather than yet more voice-coaching.
so get your voice out there, and get prospecting!
So the number of auditions one does will never translate into jobs.
That’s my opinion.
Jay Beacham